Tour an Arizona Estate Garden

Debra Lee Baldwin, Woody Woodruff (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

For 15 years majordomo Woody Woodruff has kept everything running smoothly for billionaire homeowners on 7 acres in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, in Paradise Valley NE of Phoenix. His love of his “babies”—thousands of cacti and succulents—is evident, as is his Southern drawl.

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New Must-Have Agave Book

Agaves book cover

The new book, “Agaves: Species, Cultivars & Hybrids” by Jeremy Spath and Jeff Moore is a must-have for its images alone. Stunning photos capture the beauty and fierceness of these sculptural succulents in ways both artistic and definitive.  It’s a must-have for plant IDs

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Succulent Topiary Tips, Care and How-To

Succulent topiaries by Pat Hammer

Expert Pat Hammer shows step-by-step how to make a succulent topiary beginning with a moss-filled wire frame and cuttings. Pat shares design, DIY, watering, pruning, long-term care, and helpful tips.

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Tom Cole’s Remarkable Rare Aloe Nursery

Aloe lukeana, red-orange

Tom Cole’s aloe-collecting hobby has turned into a unique nursery. Hundreds of seed-grown African aloes thrive in pots or in the ground at his Cold Spring Aloes near Lotusland in Montecito, south of Santa Barbara, CA.

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See Hidden Agave Nursery’s Rare Agaves

Hidden Agave nursery garden (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Hidden Agave Nursery is more than a source of rare and unusual agaves, it’s fast-tracking this popular succulent genus to its full potential. Owner Jeremy Spath specializes in species and cultivars that don’t get overly large, perform well in gardens, and are exceptionally beautiful. I share his fascination with

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What Makes Succulents SUCCULENT?

Aloe leaf cut open (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Become a better plant parent by learning the “how’s” and “why’s” of these lovable chubby plants. Discover what makes succulents so efficient. Slicing and squishing may seem unkind, but be assured there’s method to my madness.

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Kelly Griffin Collectors’ Group

Kelly Griffin dwarf aloes

If you’re into aloes, you’re probably aware of highly collectible Kelly Griffin hybrids. Kelly, a premier plant breeder, is responsible for dozens of cultivars in the commercial marketplace. Naturally he has a following

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Jim Bishop’s Steep, One-Acre Garden

(c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Jim Bishop’s steep, one-acre terraced garden in San Diego is unlike any other, except perhaps Jardin Exotique d’Èze near Monaco, overlooking the Mediterranean. “But there, they have to dig basins into

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My Succulent Podcast with a British Nurseryman

Sempervivum tectorum on roof

Recently I did a succulent podcast with British nurseryman Alan Lodge of Newlands Nursery. We were on opposite sides of the planet, but we chatted as though in the same room. Alan hosts weekly podcasts with international gardening experts.

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